Compactor refuse and other materials

Abstract

A cabinet has an upper portion which encloses a ram member movable vertically by a motor driven scissor-type actuator from an upper retracted position to a lower extended compacting position within a container positioned within the lower portion of the cabinet. The container is molded of a plastics material and is supported by a two-wheeled cart including pivotal arms which extend around an intermediate portion of the container and are locked together for restraining the container during compacting. When the container is tilted by the cart into a compacting position under the ram member, the container actuates a sealing frame which lowers and engages the upper rim of the container for confining within the upper portion of the cabinet any odors released by the material being compacted within the container.

The invention having thus been described, the following is claimed: 
     
       1. In a vertical compactor adapted for compressing batches of refuse or other waste material and including a frame, a generally horizontal ram member, actuator means mounted on said frame and supporting said ram member for generally vertical movement, an open top container positioned at a compacting station within said frame below said ram member and adapted to receive the material, power operated means for moving said actuator means to move said ram member between a retracted upper position and an extended lower position within said container for compressing the material within said container, and a wheel supported cart including a base member supporting the bottom wall of said container and providing for moving said container into and out of said compacting station, the improvement wherein said container comprises an open top container of molded plastics material and having an intermediate wall portion between said open top and said bottom wall, said cart including restraining means above said base member and extending in a confining position around said intermediate wall portion of said container for maintaining substantially the shape of said molded plastic container during compacting, and said restraining means being movable between said confining position and a released position to provide for conveniently removing said container laterally from said cart. 
     
     
       2. A compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said container is generally rectangular in horizontal cross-section, said cart including a set of generally parallel side walls engaging said container, said cart further including a rear wall member engaging said container, and said restraining means include a front wall member movable between said released position and said confining position extending generally parallel to said rear wall member. 
     
     
       3. A compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said restraining means comprise a set of arms extending generally around said intermediate wall portion of said container and pivotable between said confining and released positions, and releasable lock means for securing said arms together in said confining position. 
     
     
       4. A compactor as defined in claim 3 wherein said container has a generally rectangular horizontal cross-section, and at least one of said arms has a generally L-shaped configuration. 
     
     
       5. A compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said container is generally rectangular in horizontal cross-section, said restraining means include a rear wall member adjacent one side of said container, and said restraining means further include a movable arm member extending adjacent the other side of said container. 
     
     
       6. A compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a cabinet defining an upper chamber disposed above said container and enclosing said power operated means, and an odor confining member supported by said frame for movement between a first position forming a seal between said container and said cabinet and a second position providing for the removal of said cart and said container from said cabinet. 
     
     
       7. In a vertical compactor adapted for compressing batches of refuse or other waste material and including a cabinet having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a generally horizontal ram member disposed within said upper chamber, actuator means supporting said ram member for generally vertical movement, a container positioned within said lower chamber below said ram member and having an upper rim portion defining a top opening for receiving the material, power operated means for moving said actuator means to move said ram member between a retracted upper position and an extended lower position within said container for compressing the material within said container, and a wheel supported cart supporting said container and providing for moving said container into and out of said lower chamber, the improvement comprising an odor confining member, means supporting said odor confining member for movement between a lower sealing position engaging said rim portion of said container and a retracted upper position providing for removing said container with said cart, means for moving said odor confining member between said sealing and retracted positions, and said odor confining member forming a seal between said container and said cabinet when said member is in said sealing position for confining any odors within said container and said upper chamber. 
     
     
       8. A compactor as defined in claim 7 wherein said odor confining member is movable between said sealing and retracted positions in response to movement of said container into and out of said lower chamber. 
     
     
       9. A compactor as defined in claim 7 wherein said odor confining member comprises a generally rectangular sealing frame having peripherally extending means for engaging said rim portion of said container, and pivot means supporting said frame for pivotal movement between a generally horizontal said sealing position and said retracted position inclining upwardly and forwardly from said pivot means to provide for tilting said container into and out of said lower chamber with said cart. 
     
     
       10. A compactor as defined in claim 9 wherein said sealing frame has a downwardly projecting rear flange portion positioned to be engaged by said container and an upwardly projecting front flange portion, and means forming a generally air-tight seal between said front flange portion and said cabinet when said frame is in said sealing position. 
     
     
       11. A compactor as defined in claim 7 and including releasable latch means for securing said odor confining member in said sealing position, and spring means urging said odor confining member to said retracted position. 
     
     
       12. A compactor as defined in claim 7 wherein said odor containing member comprises a generally rectangular sealing frame disposed between said container and said ram member in said retracted position. 
     
     
       13. A compactor as defined in claim 7 wherein said ram member includes substantiallly parallel side walls, said actuator comprises a scissor-type actuator including a series of interfitting arms, means defining slots within said arms and said side walls of said ram member, a set of slide blocks disposed within said slots for sliding movement, and a cross rod supporting said blocks for independent rotation. 
     
     
       14. A compactor as defined in claim 7 wherein said container comprises an open top container of molded plastics material, and said cart includes means for confining an intermediate portion of said container to avoid bulging of said container portion during compacting. 
     
     
       15. A compactor as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for confining said container comprise a set of pivotally supported L-shaped arms on said cart, and means for releasably securing said arms together in a position confining said container. 
     
     
       16. In a vertical compactor adapted for compressing batches of refuse or other waste material and including a cabinet defining an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a ram member disposed within said upper chamber, actuator means supporting said ram member for generally vertical movement, a container positioned within said lower chamber below said ram member and having an upper rim portion defining a top opening for receiving the material, power operated means for moving said actuator means to move said ram member between a retracted upper position and an extended lower position within said container for compressing the material within said container, and a wheel supported cart supporting said container and providing for moving said container into and out of said lower chamber, the improvement comprising an odor confining member, means supporting said odor confining member for movement between a lower sealing position engaging said rim portion of said container and a retracted upper position providing for removing said container with said cart, means for moving said odor confining member between said retracted position and said sealing position forming a seal between said container and said cabinet to confine any odors within said container and said upper chamber, said cart including restraining means extending in a confining position around an intermedite portion of said container for maintaining substantially the shape of said container during compacting, and said restraining means being movable between said confining position and a released position providing for conveniently removing said container laterally from said cart. 
     
     
       17. A compactor as defined in claim 16 wherein said container is generally rectangular in horizontal cross-section and comprises a molded plastics material, said cart including a rear wall member engaging said container, and said restraining means include a front wall member movable between said released position and said confining position extending generally parallel to said rear wall member. 
     
     
       18. A compactor as defined in claim 16 wherein said restraining means comprises a set of L-shaped arms extending generally around said intermediate wall portion of said container and pivotable between said confining and released positions, and releasable lock means for securing said arms together in said confining position.